Getafe FC’s stadium has been renamed because of sexist comments made by its namesake, Alfonso Perez.
The council of the Madrid suburb of Getafe announced that the stadium would now just be called “Coliseum” – without the addition of Alfonso Perez. The stadium loaned to the club must be “an example of conveying positive values in sport such as equality, solidarity and respect”.
The former Spanish international striker was born in Getafe and never played for the local club. He had said that men’s and women’s football cannot be compared in terms of public interest and also the financial dimensions of the respective sport.
“Everyone has to know where they stand and what generates money. You can’t complain about what women’s football is now,” Perez told the Spanish newspaper “El Mundo”: “It has evolved, but they have to stay on the ground and know that they cannot in any way be equated with a male player.”
Spanish football is still in turmoil after the kissing scandal at the Spanish World Cup winners’ award ceremony. The association president Luis Rubiales, who has since resigned, kissed the newly crowned world champion Jenni Hermoso on the mouth against her will.
This led to a storm of indignation. The world champions went on strike at times and the successful but controversial national coach Jorge Vilda had to leave. Rubiales also eventually resigned under great pressure.